flexiblefullpage - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
Currently Reading

Easy Joist Blocking for Wood I-Joists

Advertisement
billboard -
Jobsite Know-How

Easy Joist Blocking for Wood I-Joists

Adding plywood gussets to short lengths of I-joist makes for easy-to-install blocking in an engineered floor frame


By By David Joyce January 16, 2019
wooden i-joist jobsite know how pro remodeler joist blocking
joist blocking
This article first appeared in the January 2019 issue of Pro Remodeler.

Engineered I-joists can span long distances to make a flat and solid subfloor. Tying the joists together with blocking makes the floor even stronger and stiffer. So one of the last things that need to be done before sheathing the deck is to fill in with joist blocking. Here are three steps for joist blocking. Read on to learn how to install blocking between joints.

Making “Professional” Blocks 

To make the blocks, I cut sections of I-joist 1½ inches smaller than the space between the joists, then nail a scrap of ¾-inch subfloor material to each end of the block [1]. This creates two large nailing fins.

Calvin Cutts works from a ladder to install the blocks. After lining up each block with the tops of the floor joists, he nails it in place, top and bottom, on both sides [2].

The subfloor strips are about ½ inch shorter than the full height of the I-joist [3] so that the nailing fins will not stick above the tops of the joists and cause humps in the floor. 

how to install blocking between joists

joist blocking

how to install joist blocking between joists

Get more Jobsite Know-How here


written by

David Joyce

David Joyce owns Synergy Construction in Lancaster, Mass. This article is adapted from a video at ProTradeCraft.com. Thanks to David and his crew for  allowing us to hang out at their jobsite.


Add new comment

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
leaderboard2 - default

Related Stories

6 Must-Knows for Installing Pocket Doors

Save your sanity: Do it right the first time

Crawl Spaces to Basements: Proceed with Caution

Converting a crawl space to other uses can upgrade a home and add significant value, but when done incorrectly, it can also be disastrous 

The Ins and Outs of Pedestal Tile Systems

A non-exhaustive overview of all things pedestal tile systems

How to Attach a Patio Roof to an Existing House

A graceful integration may mean more work but improved functionality and aesthetics 

6 Tips for Electric Floor Heating Systems

These quick tips and tricks provide a base knowledge to begin your floor heating education

How To Improve Energy Performance in Existing Attics

There’s more to insulating the attic than attic insulation; there’s venting, air sealing, and misery

How to Install PVC Bevel Siding Over Rainscreen

It’s a lot like installing wood bevel siding, except it won’t warp or rot. And it expands and contracts differently and for different reasons

Understanding How PVC Trim Moves

Anybody who’s used PVC in an exterior application knows that it moves seasonally. Just like wood, right? Not exactly

To Vent or Not to Vent: A Discussion

In an attempt to strike a middle ground between high-performance and attainable, these three remodelers engage in a candid conversation

Diagnosing Cracked Concrete

These quick questions (and solutions) will allow you to determine if a crack is aesthetic or structural

Advertisement
boombox2 -
Advertisement
halfpage2 -
Advertisement
native1 -

More in Category




Advertisement
native2 -
Advertisement
halfpage1 -
Advertisement
leaderboard1 -